Ben Elton in general

I?ve just finished reading Dead Famous. Funnily enough this is the first book I have read written by Ben Elton although I know other people have recommended reading others such as Popcorn. The book is bears an uncanny resemblance to the first Big Brother and I could compare some of the characters with those contestants such as Craig and Nicola. But, this is Big Brother with a deadly twist ? a murder! I?m not giving anything away by telling you this, as the murder has already happened before the book starts but not until a good half way through do you find out who it is and everyone seems to have a motive. The story follows the inmates in ?House Arrest; ...  Read the complete review

I really never liked the man. As a stand up I found him annoying and I'd quickly switch channel if he came on TV doing an interview. I wasn't even especially keen on some of the programmes he'd written. But as an author he can't do much wrong in my eyes. I've read 4 of his books to date and thoroughly enjoyed every one. Not only hilariously funny, his books are also very sharp, clever and sometimes moving. Elton's own opinions seem to come across strongly in much of his writing and, whether or not you agree with his beliefs, they are certainly thought provoking & have the ability to make you question your own. Unlike some authors i have read ...  Read the complete review

I seem to remember hearing Ben Elton say in a radio interview once that he didn't like cynics. If so, that's a shame, because he's done so much to promote the cause of cynicism. His first novel, for example, was called *Stark* and is about an exceedingly rich, exceedingly greedy, exceedingly selfish Australian businessman who is plainly modelled on Rupert Murdoch. That's the same Rupert Murdoch whose support was so assiduously cultivated by the Labour Government before the general election in 1997. That's the same Labour Government whose chancellor and third most powerful figure (after Peter Mandelson and Alastair Campbell) is called Gordon ...  Read the complete review